Mechanical trip and inching control for presses



Nov. 4, 1952 G. l. DANLY Er AL l 2,616,542

MECHANICAL TRIP AND INCHING CONTROL FOR PRESSES Filed Nov. 1, 1947 s sheets-sheet 1 H77' ORNE Y Nov. 4, 1952 G. l. DANLY ETAL 2,616,542

MECHANICAL TRIP AND INCHINC CONTROL RCR PRESSES Filed Nov. l. 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS Geo/Q65 I Dam/.Y J4/w55 C DfQ/VLY.

BY ASM Nov. 4, 1952 G. l. DANLY ETAL 2,516,542

MECHANICAL TRIP AND INCRING CONTROL EoR PRESSES Filed NOV. l, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 BYMSQWM,

/QTTOR/VEY Patented Nov. 4, 1952 MECHANICAL TRIP AND INCHINGCONTROL FOR PRESSES George I. Danly, Elmhurst, and James C. Danly, RiverForest, Ill., assignors to Danly Machine Specialties, Inc., Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application November 1, 1947, Serial No. 783,540

9 Claims.

Our invention relates to a mechanical trip and inching control for pressesand, more particularly, to an improved construction enabling us to stop a power press at any instant irrespective of its position in the cycle, or to move the power press to any position in its cycle for the purpose of making adjustments oi the press ram or of dies used with the press.

In co-pending application of Vasil Georgen, Serial Number 783,748, iiled November 3, 1947, for Mechanical Trip Control for Presses, there is disclosed a mechanical linkage and system enabling the press to run continuously or to be set for a cyclic operation. Our invention comprises an improvement in the mechanical trip control mechanism there shown. The control disclosed in the Georgen? application represents an improvement over the complicated electrical controls commonly employed Vin connection with power presses and discloses an inching lever which acts through the main control. In that control however it is possible to operate the main control during the inching operation which presents a possible source of danger. Then too, no means are provided for stopping the press instantaneously in event oi an emergency.

One object of our invention is to provide an improved inching linkage for power presses equipped with a mechanical trip control in which the inching is independent of the linkage `:for the main control and in which the main control is immobilized by an interlock whenever the inching control is employed.

Another object of our invention is to provide a control linkage for instantaneously stopping the press in event of emergency.

Other and further objects of our invention will appear from the following description.

In the accompanying drawings which form part o the instant specification and which lare to be read in conjunction therewith and in which like reference numerals are usedl to indicateV like parts in the various views:

Fig. 1 is a side elevaton `of a power press equipped with one embodiment ofV our invention;

Fig. 2 is an elevation on an enlarged scale showing the control assembly illustrated .in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the position oi parts during the inching operation of the press;

Fig. 4 is a view similar'to Fig'. 3 showing the position of parts during the emergency stop action of our improved control.

' In general, our invention contemplateslthe provision of a control system operating through the control of a valve governing the compressed air supply to the clutch and brake assembly of the .power press. It is customary to employ a continuously-running flywheel adapted to be clutched to the operating train of `the press or to be unclutched therefrom with a simultaneous setting of a brake.

ln the control system shown in the application of Vasil Georgen?, Serial No. 783,748 referred to above, a linkage is provided, including a coupling member and a latching member, together with timed means operated by the movement of a press part for releasing the latch under predetermined conditions `and at a predetermined part of the cycle of the press. Means are provided to set the control for continuous operation Yor for single stroke operation. With the single-stroke setting, the latch will be released irrespective of the position of the foot pedal at a predetermined point in the cycle of operation. With the continuous setting of the controls, the press will run continuously as long as the foot pedal is depressed. Upon release of the foot pedal, the cycle will be completed and the press will stopV at a predetermined point in the cycle.

We have provided an-improved inching control which operates directly upon the air valve in such a manner that release of the inching control will instantly stop the press. An interlock is provided for immobilizing the latches and transmission from the foot pedal so that, when the inching control is operated, the foot pedal can not be used to initiate the operation of the press.

We have also provided a hand-operated means for releasing. thev latches independent of the timed releasing means so that the press may be stopped instantaneously at any position in the cycle, thus providing an emergency stop means.

Our construction is completely mechanical and all the parts are strong, sturdy, sure of operation and inexpensiveto build.

More particularly, referring now to the drawings, a press indicated generally by the reference numeral 6 is provided with a frame 8 carrying a prime mover such as an electrical motor Ill adapted to driveY any suitable transmission comprising a clutch` and flywheel assembly such as is well known in the art.

The operation of thev press is controlled through a compressed air valvev l2, governed by a valve lever t4?. A foot pedal i6, operating through alink H3 connectedto` a pivot plate 2li and alink 22, is adapted to pulllink 2li upwardly against the action of spring 26 through a latching mechanism indicated generally by the reference numeral 28. Upward motion of the link 24 rotates the valve lever I4 in a clockwise direction, permitting compressed air to clutch the iywheel 30 to the operating train of the press. When the latching mechanism is set for single-stroke operation, a cam 32, acting through a trip lever 34, will release the latch contained within the latching mechanism 28 to permit the spring 26 to rotate the Valve-operating lever I4 in a counterclockwise direction, thus stopping the press.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2 and more particularly to Fig. 2, we have provided an operating lever 34, pivoted about a pin 36, carried by the press frame. The lever 34 is normally biased by a spring 38 carried by a bracket 48 upon the frame of the press to rotate around the pivot 36 in a clockwise direction. A collar 42, the position of which is determined by set screw 44, is carried by the link 22 of the foot pedal transmission linkage. A bell crank 46 is pivoted about a pin 48 carried by the press frame. The lower end of the crank 46 is connected by link 5U to the lever 34. A housing 52 is carried by the frame between the crank 46 and the operating link 22. An interlock member 54 is slidably carried in the housing 52 and is provided with a pair of recesses 56 adapted selectively to receive a pin 58 normally carried downwardly by a at spring `6I] carried by the housing 52. In the position shown in Fig. 2, it will be noted that the interlock member 54 engages the bell crank 46 and prevents it from rotating in a clockwise direction. In other words, the bell crank may rotate only in a counterclockwise direction. This would be imparted to the bell crank by pushing on the handle 62 carried by the lever 34, rotating it in a counterclockwise direction against the action of the spring 38. The left hand end 64 of the interlock member 54, it will be noted too, is clear of the collar 42.

A screw 66 is carried by the upper portion of the lever 34 adjacent its pivot 36. The screw is adapted to contact the lower end of a reciprocating actuating latch 68 of the latching mechanism 28. Rotation of the lever 34 in a counterclockwise direction around its pivot 36 will cause the actuating latch 68 to pivot around the pin 1I carried by the latching mechanism housing and thus rotate the actuating latch and the holding latch in a counterclockwise direction to release the actuating lever 10 in order to stop the press, as will be described more fully hereinafter.

When the pin 58 is lifted upwardly against the action of spring 60, the interlock member 54 may be moved to the left through knob 12, freeing the bell crank 46 and bringing the end 64 of the interlock member underneath the collar 42, as can readily be seen by reference to Fig. 3. In this position, it is impossible to operate the press through the link 22 and the associated foot pedal. If the handle 62 is now pulled to rotate the lever 34 in a clockwise direction, the toe 14 of the bell crank will rotate the operating lever I4 of the air valve I2 to open the valve to run the press. It will be observed that, to rotate the operating valve lever I4, the spring 26 must be compressed against its stop 16 carried by the press. This spring is much stronger than the comparatively light spring 38 so that, upon release of the handle 162, the press will immediately stop.

In operation, referring now to Fig. 3, the interlock member 54 has been set for the inching position. The foot pedal I6 cannot be depressed, 75

since the collar 42 will engage the end 64 of the interlock member 54, preventing the downward movement of the link 22. When it is desired to inch the press, the handle 62 of the lever 34 is pulled, that is moved to the left as viewed in Fig. 3, thus rotating the lever in a clockwise direction about its pivot 36. This action moves the link 50 to the left. thus rotating the bell crank 46 about its pivot 48 in a clockwise direction. The toe 14 of the bell crank engages the valve-operating lever I4 and rotates it in a clockwise direction against the action of spring 26, thus opening the valve and permitting the press to run. As soon as the handle 62 is released, the spring 26 will rotate the valve-operating lever I4 in a counterclockwise direction to close the air valve, thus stopping the press. It will be seen that in the inching operation, the latching detent 61 and the actuating detent 68 of the latching assembly 28 are not employed. The actuating lever 10 will of course move, due to the movement of the link 24, but this movement is insufficient to bring the toe of the actuating lever 10 under the influence of the holding latch 6T.

Referring now to Fig. 4, it will be observed that the interlock member 54 has been moved to the right to provide a stop for the bell crank 46, preventing it from rotating around its pivot 48 in a clockwise direction. In this position of the interlock, the end 64 is moved clear of the collar 42 so that the link 22 is free to move. Normally then in this position, the foot pedal I6 may be operated to pull the actuating detent 68 downwardly in order to bring the toe of the actuating lever 10 under the influence of the latching detent 61. In this position normally, the press will run until the projection 19 on the cam 32 contacts .the follower 8l, carried by the trip lever 34. The rotation of the trip lever 34 around its pivot 83 in a clockwise direction will pivot the actuating detent 68 around its pivot 1I in a counterclockwise direction, thus carrying it and the latching detent 61 clear of the toe of actuating lever 10 to permit the spring 26 to move the valve-operating lever I4 to closed position.

If it is desired to stop the press suddenly, irrespective of its position in the cycle of its operation, the handle 62 is pushed, thus rotating the lever 34 in a counterclockwise direction around its pivot 36, moving the link 5D to the right as viewed in Fig. 4. This movement of the link 5I! to the right has no effect, since it carries the toe 14 of the bell crank away from the valveactuating lever 10. The counterclockwise movement of the lever 34 however carries the screw 66 into contact with the lower end of actuating detent 68, thus rotating it in a counterclockwise direction and carrying it and the latching lever 61 to the left, as viewed in Fig. 4. A lug 85. carried by the latching detent 61, engages the actuating detent 68 so that movement of detent 68 to the left will carry the upper end of latching detent 61 to the left, as viewed in Fig. 4. This movement to the left of both detents 68 and 61 frees the toe of the operating lever 10, permitting the spring 26 to rotate the valve-operating lever I4 in a counterclockwise direction to close the valve.

The member 81 adjusts the latching mechanism for continuous or single-stroke operation. The stop linkage just described operates equally well whether the press is set to run continuously or for single-stroke operation. It serves as a handy, accessible emergency stop means which may prevent the wrecking of the press, the destructionv of dies or, in some cases, the loss of life or limb.

It will be seen that we have accomplished the objects of our invention. We have provided an improved mechanical trip control for presses. whereby an emergency stop linkage is provided, enabling us to stop the press instantaneously, irrespective of its position in the cycle of operation and without regard to whether the press is set for continuous running or for single-stroke operation. We have provided an inching control which, when placed in operation, will preclude the press being operated by its customary foot control. We have thus provided a safe, simple, sturdy, inexpensive construction which is certain in its operation and which provides a 'safe control for the heaviest of powerpresses.

It will be understood that certain features and sub-combinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and sub-combinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of our claims. It is further obvious that various changes may be made in details within the scope of our claims Vwithout departing from the spirit of our invention. It is therefore to be understood that our invention is not to be limited to the speciiic details shown and described.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim is:

l. A control assembly for power presses, including in combination a press, a control member adapted to control starting and stopping the press, means for biasing said control member to move to press-stopping position, an actuating member adapted to operate the control member, a nrst manually operable means for moving said actuating member to press-running position, a detent adapted to hold the actuating member in press-running position against the action of said biasing means, trip means adapted to release said detent, means responsive to the movement of the press part for driving said trip means to press stopping position at a predetermined point in its cycle of operation, a second manually operable means for moving said actuating member to press-running position, an interlock housing positioned adjacent said manually operable means, an interlock stop member carried by said housing, means carried by said first manually operable means for co-acting with one end of said stop member, means carried by said second manually operable means for co-acting with the other end of said stop member, means for positioning said stop member for co-action with one or the other of said oo-acting means and means` for immobilizing said stop member in one or the other of said co-acting positions.

2. A control assembly as in claim 1 in which said means for co-acting with one end of said stop member carried by said first manually operable means includes means for adjusting the position of said co-acting means.

3. A control assembly as in claim l in which said means for immobilizing said stop member includes a pin, said stop member being formed with a pair of apertures, said pin being adapted to seat in one or the other of said apertures and spring means for holding said pin in the aperture in which it is seated.

4. A control assembly as in claim 1 in which said second manually operable means includes a bell crank, means for pivoting said bell crank adjacent said control member and means for rotating the bell crank around its pivot against the vactionv of saidtbiasing means, the construcmove to press-stopping position, an actuating member adapted to control the control member, manually operable means for moving said actuating member to press-running position, a detent adapted -to hold the actuating member in pressrunning position against the action of said biasing means, trip means adapted to release said detent, means responsive to the movement of a press part for driving said trip means to press stopping position at a predetermined point in its cycle of operation, a manually-operated lever, means for pivoting said lever, detent-actuating means carried by said lever adapted to release said detent upon the manual pivoting of said lever, a bell crank, means for pivotally mounting said bell crank adjacent to said control member, a link connecting said bell crank and said pivoted lever, the construction being such that the pivoting of the lever in one Adirection will release the detent to press stopping position and the pivoting of the lever in the opposite direction will rotate the bell crank Ato actuate said control member to move it to press-running position.

6. A control assembly as in claim 5, including in combination an interlock for preventing said bell crank from moving said control member to press-running position when said manually operable means for moving said actuating member is free to operate and for immobilizing said manually operable means when said bell crank is free to move said control member to press-running position.

'7. A control assembly for power presses including in combination a press, a control member adapted to control starting and stopping of the press, means for biasing said control member to move to press-stopping position, an actuating member adapted to operate the control member, manually operable means for moving said actuating member to press-running position, a detent adapted to hold the actuating member in pressrunning position against the action of said biasing means, trip means adapted to release said detent, means responsive to the movement of a press part for driving said trip means to press-stopping position at a predetermined point in its cycle of operation, and manually operable means for releasing said detent irrespective of the position of the press parts, in which said manually operable means for releasing said detent comprises a, lever, means for pivotally mounting said lever, a detentactuating member carried by said lever and means for adjusting the position of said detent-actuating member.

8. A control assembly for power presses including in combination a press, a control member adapted to control starting and stopping of the press, means for biasing said control member to move to press-stopping position, an actuating member adapted to operate the control member, manually operable means for moving said actuating member to press-running position, a detent adapted to hold the actuating member in pressrunning position against the action of said biasing means, trip means adapted to release said detent, means responsive to the movement of a press part for driving said trip means to pressstopping position at a predetermined point in its cycle of operation, and manually operable means for releasing said detent irrespective of the posi tion of the press parts, in which said manually operable means for releasing said detent comprises a lever, means for pivotally mounting said lever, a detent-actuating member carried by said lever, means for adjusting the position of said detent-actuating member and biasing means for urging said lever away from detent-releasing position.

9. A control assembly for power presses including in combination a press, a control member adapted to control starting and stopping of the press, means for biasing said control member to move to press-stopping position, an actuating member adapted to operate the control member, a rst manually operable means for moving said actuating member to press-running position, a second manually operable means adapted to operate the control member and an interlock means for preventing the operation of said rst manually operable means when said second manually operable means is in operable condition and for preventing the operation of said second manually operable means when said first manually operable means is in operable condition, in which said interlock means comprises a housing, a stop member adapted to slide in said housing, means for locking said stop member in a position to immobilize said second manually operable means, means to lock said stop member in a position to immobilize said rst manually operable means, means for co-acting with said stop member carried by said rst manually operable means, means for co-acting with said stop member carried by said second manually operable means, the length of said stop member being such that when it is co-acting with said first eo-acting means it is out of engagement with said second co-acting means and when it is co-acting with said second coacting means it is out of engagement with said first co-acting means.

GEORGE I. DANLY.

JAMES C. DANLY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

